America’s Fatal Obsession with Guns

by Tony Magliano ·
Published October 8, 2017
· Updated October 6, 2017

US-based Tony Magliano looks at gun ownership in his country and the fatal consequences of the absence of gun ownership restrictions

“It’s the worst mass shooting in modern American history.”

The above opening sentence is the exact lead sentence I used in a column last year, because last year’s mass shooting in an Orlando, Florida nightclub was the worst in modern U.S. history, that is, until just days ago when at least 59 people were shot dead, and over 526 injured during a music festival in Las Vegas.

Now Las Vegas carries the tragic distinction as being the site of the worst mass shooting in modern American history. May there never be another place to bear that dreadful title.

But when a culture’s decreasing respect for human life and its significant indifference to violence is combined with its easy legal access to guns, the results are not difficult to predict.

Guns do not make us safer.

Americans Own More Guns than Residents of Other Countries

According to CNN, and many other reports, Americans own by far more guns per person than residents of any other country. Of the world’s estimated 650 million civilian-owned guns, nearly half – 310 million guns – are owned by Americans.

Now consider this: Gun homicide rates are over 25 times higher in the U.S. than in any of the other wealthy nations. And gun-related suicides are eight times higher in the U.S. than in other high-income countries.

The U.S. also has the tragic distinction of having by far the most mass shootings of any nation on earth (see: http://cnn.it/2xP2I4A).

According to research compiled by criminologist Frederic Lemieux, “The higher the gun ownership rate, the more a country is susceptible to experiencing mass shooting incidents.”

Lemieux reports that that between 1983 to 2013, 119 mass shootings occurred worldwide, with the U.S. accounting for 78 of those mass shootings. Sixty-six percent of all mass shootings in that 30-year period were in just one country – the United States.

Buying guns in the U.S. is far too easy.

What is the NRA?

Common sense federal gun control legislation is obviously needed. Yet, Congress refuses to act. And arguably the major reason for Congress’ paralysis can be spell out with three letters: NRA.

The National Rifle Association mounts a powerful lobbying effort, and any member of Congress brave enough to back common sense gun control legislation is targeted for reelection defeat.

Present federal law only requires licensed gun dealers to initiate background checks. And since gun sales often take place between unlicensed persons, approximately 40 percent of all firearms transferred in the U.S. are done without a background check. Congress needs to close this dangerous giant loophole.

There is no comprehensive national system of gun registration. Again, Congress needs to step up to the plate and pass comprehensive gun registration legislation.

Congress also needs to ban assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazine clips which have been used in many mass shootings.

Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings about Catholic social teaching. His keynote address, “Advancing the Kingdom of God in the 21st Century,” has been well received by diocesan and parish gatherings from Santa Clara, Calif. to Baltimore, Md. Tony can be reached at tmag@zoominternet.net.